Chapter 73: In Search of the Demon Sword (5)

The crimson mist had vanished. Silence settled over the chamber, so deep it felt almost lonely. I stood at its center, lost in thought until I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

“Well, I can check how strong I’ve gotten later.”

Right now, it was time to examine the spoils of war. It wasn’t exactly a hard-earned prize, considering how easily I obtained it, but it was a significant one nonetheless.

“Let’s have a look.”

As I lifted the Demon Sword, its surface gleamed with a sinister red sheen. Unlike when I had first released it, I didn’t feel the same overwhelming energy pouring off it now. It was probably low on blood.

I lightly drew the blade across my palm. Blood welled up and ran down the blade, seeping into the sword. The Demon Sword shuddered violently and power flared from the blade, stronger now that it had tasted blood.

“That’s more like it.”

Though Veskal’s consciousness was completely gone, the power infused within the sword remained untouched. When I gripped the blood-slick hilt, a surge of energy coursed through my entire body. This was the nature of the Demon Sword Veskal, an artifact that granted immense strength in exchange for the wielder’s blood. With every beat of my heart, I could feel vitality flooding my limbs.

My strength, stamina, and reflexes had all spiked, and my body felt light, sharp, ready to explode into action. It kind of felt like when Iris buffed me with her blessing.

Of course, to maintain this state, the sword continuously consumed blood. It was called a demon sword for a reason. If its wielder got drunk on the power it offered and swung it recklessly, their body would drain dry before they knew it. They would die without realizing it. However, for me, that was not a problem.

I chuckled.

“With this, I don’t need to worry about running out of Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion.”

While the sword didn’t increase my mana reserves, it enhanced my body so significantly that I could conserve mana more efficiently. In essence, it was like getting free extra mana. In other words, rather than creating more mana, it helped me use less. And that was not all it could do.

I lifted the sword, leveling it horizontally, then raised it above my head and slammed it down with full force. I used the Berald Combat Style: Blade Breaker. Even though I hadn’t even infused mana into it, the Demon Sword split clean in two, spraying blood-colored shards across the floor.

“Yep, still pretty flimsy.”

Its durability left much to be desired. It was barely better than the cheap iron swords issued to academy cadets, a disappointing quality for something called a Demon Sword. But then, I felt the blood drain from my body and watched as the shattered sword reformed, as good as new.

“There it is.”

Another strength of the Demon Sword Veskal was that no matter how many times it was broken, as long as the user supplied blood, it could regenerate infinitely. In a weird way, it was kind of like me.

I gave a wry smile at the sense of kinship I felt with the weapon. “At least now I don’t have to worry about my sword breaking in the middle of a fight.”

To a warrior, the durability of a weapon was more important than people thought. In battles where mountains collapsed and the earth split apart, it was not common for a weapon to snap from the strain.

When I had fought the crocodile monster, my sword had shattered mid-fight, too. If I weren’t trained in hand-to-hand combat, that could’ve cost me the entire battle. For someone else, losing their weapon mid-combat could mean losing half their fighting power on the spot.

“Well, it’s about time to switch shifts.”

I reversed my grip on the sword and stabbed it into my palm. But instead of piercing through, the sword melted into my blood, vanishing into my body.

“Still so convenient.”

Being able to store the sword inside my blood like that was another minor perk.

Before leaving the chamber, I took one last look around at the ruined space left behind by the battle. I remembered not the fight, but the people who died here in my past life—the comrades who had fought beside me when I was still just a mercenary. Their faces came to mind, some blurred now by time.

The captain, a foul-mouthed man who gave his life for his crew.

“Damn it! I’ll hold it off! Everyone else, run!”

The vice-captain, who had given me the mortifying nickname Rabbit Han.

“Hey, Rabbit-boy! Quit standing around and move your ass!”

The lone woman in the unit, our field leader, who had stolen more than a few hearts among the crew. “I-I don’t want to die. Please...

Ugh

!”

I gave them a quiet moment of remembrance. Even if it all belonged to a past life, even if I was the only one left who remembered them.

“Thanks!”

Because of all of them, I was still here.

***

Day two of the ruin expedition, just like the day before, the party continued their exploration. I deliberately avoided the hidden passage I had discovered and spent the day hunting demonic monsters.

Even though the ruin hadn’t been rated as particularly dangerous, we had already gone two days straight, camping overnight in the field. Yet, not a single person seemed worn out. In fact, they looked even more energized than before.

They were definitely feeling it too, that thrill when one’s movements start to sync with their teammates during a fight and that unspoken coordination, exchanging signals with a glance, every little action falling into place like perfectly aligned gears. It was a feeling only those who had truly fought as a party could understand.

I looked at them and said, “All right. Let’s wrap it up here for today.”

“

Huh

? Already? But I was just starting to warm up!” Berald clenched his fists enthusiastically, as if itching for more.

Yuren and Iris chimed in too, clearly eager to continue. Even Camilla looked like she wasn’t quite ready to stop.

“I’m fine to keep going too.”

“Same here. This is my first time working in sync with a proper party, but it’s way more fun than I expected.”

“

Hmph

. I suppose... It wasn’t such a bad experience after all.”

I stifled a laugh and shook my head. “That’s enough for now. I think we’ve all synced up pretty well.”

Maybe it was thanks to how skilled they were individually, but even though this was only the second day of our exploration, the difference in how they worked when they started and how they did now was like that between night and day. They learned one thing and grasped ten. If taught ten, they would master a hundred.

Watching them grow this fast, I finally understood the joy of teaching others.

So, this is what it feels like to teach someone properly, huh?

I was tempted to keep pushing forward just to enjoy that feeling a little more. Still, I said, “But right now, your bodies are running hot and your heads are still buzzing from the rush. Once you cool down, the fatigue’s going to hit you hard.”

I remembered something Berald once told me back when I was still building up my body. Exercise was important, but so was rest. Just as much, in fact.

Then he would add with a laugh,

“Not that it really matters for you, Brother. You recover so fast, rest is kind of optional.”

Now that I think about it, that bastard really pissed me off. Who says that right after making someone do five hundred pull-ups, a thousand push-ups, and a thousand squats in a day? Ugh! Let it go. Let it go

, I said to myself.

Shoving away the nightmare that was my training arc, I continued, “That’s it for this ruin exploration. Let’s call it a day and head back.”

“Well, if you say so, Brother. I’ll go along with it.”

“Wait, didn’t we book our stay out of town until tomorrow? You’re heading back to the academy today?”

“Nah, we’ll go back tomorrow.” I lifted a heavy pouch and grinned. “Tonight, let’s stop by an inn on the way back and celebrate with a drink.”

The pouch, swollen like a ripe fruit, was full of mana stones we had collected from the demonic beasts over the last two days. Most were low-grade and mass-produced, so they wouldn’t sell for much individually. But they were enough to celebrate a successful exploration.

Eyes sparkling, Berald, Yuren, and Iris nodded eagerly.

“

Bwahaha

! That’s our big bro! Always got style!”

“

Mmm,

I guess it’d be kind of anticlimactic to just head straight back after finishing a big job like this.”

“Dale! For snacks, I want your ramen again!”

Then came a splash of cold water, figuratively, from the would-be Sword of the Holy Empire. Camilla planted her hands on her hips and declared with firm conviction, “

Hah

! What kind of irresponsible nonsense is that? Listen well! To train the mind is to train the body! Toasting your success right after a mission is exactly how you start getting complacent...”

No one seemed to listen to her though, busy with their own discussions.

“Ice-cold beer in a frosted mug.”

“Crispy fried chicken and golden-brown sausages.”

Camilla grumbled. “

Guh!

”

“Dried squid... with peanuts.”

Camilla snapped. “Y-you wretch! Will you shut your mouth already?”

She turned away, a deep flush rising on her cheeks, and coughed awkwardly. “

Ahem!

W-well, I suppose it can’t be helped. As the Saintess’s bodyguard, I can’t exactly go away alone. I’ll come too.”

“Maybe wipe the drool off your mouth first?”

“

Ugh

!”

In any case, with Camilla finally on board, although grudgingly, we left the Cave of Crimson Tears and returned to Valhalla City. We booked rooms at an inn in town—where once again, Yuren opted for a private room—and gathered in the attached tavern on the ground floor for drinks.

“Cheers!”

“

Ahhh

! Nothing beats beer after a good fight!”

“

Ugh

, but I really wanted Dale’s ramen again,” Iris said.

“Come on. We’re at a tavern. I can’t just cook ramen here,” I replied.

“But still!”

“

Guh!

I-I will not... succumb to temptation!” Camilla said.

“She’s doing it again. Iris, get some chicken in Camilla’s mouth.”

“

Hehe

. Leave it to me, Dale.” Iris stabbed a whole drumstick into Camilla’s mouth.

“

Mmmpf

! T-that’s too big, there’s no way it’ll—mmph!”

“Seriously.”

“

Mmm!

So tender... and salty. Oh gods! What divine flavor,” Camilla said in a daze.

“

Uh!

We’re still talking about chicken, right?”

“

Ugh!

I-I said no, I didn’t want it, but...

haah

, I can’t... resist anymore.”

“Girl, what is wrong with you?”

Who moans like that over fried chicken?

I thought.

***

After the rowdy drinking session came to an end, we all stood to return to our rooms. But Berald suddenly snapped his fingers like he had had a brilliant idea. “Oh right, Brother! Turns out there’s a 24-hour bathhouse right next to this inn!”

“

Ooh

, seriously?”

We had taken a quick rinse after arriving, but that was nothing compared to soaking in a real, hot bath.

“In that case, we might as well go steam ourselves a bit before bed,” I said.

“

Heh heh

, I’m in! Of course, Yuren will be coming too.”

“Obviously,” I said firmly.

Berald and I turned to look at Yuren.

“

U-um,

I’m,

uh

, not really a fan of public baths,” Yuren said shyly.

“What, you’re skipping this too?” I said in a sad tone.

He used his own tent, booked a single room, and now this? There’s a limit to being a sheltered noble, damn it!

I thought.

If we didn’t break him out of his bubble now, he would never learn!

“Trust me, once you’re soaking in that hot water, you’ll change your mind completely.”

“S-sorry! But the bathhouse is seriously... not for me!”

“

Hah

! Yuren! Don’t you know there’s a saying: a man’s true friendship blooms in the bathhouse!”

“I’m hearing that for the first time.”

“I just made it up.”

“Anyway!” Berald grabbed Yuren by the arm and started dragging him toward the bathhouse. “You skip this, and you’ll be stripped of your manhood!”

“Damn right!” I said in a fit.

“W-wait!

Aahhh

!”

I grabbed his other arm, and together, Berald and I dragged the poor guy along.

“W-why are you both so strong?! N-no! Stop!

Aaaaaahhhh

!”

And just like that, Yuren was hauled, kicking and screaming, into the bathhouse.